2013 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, pub crawl, and other events set for March 16-17

Participants in the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day parade march along Dickson Street.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

Laundry alert: You’re going to want at least two green shirts clean and ready to wear this weekend.

That’s because St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and there are two days of celebrations planned in Fayetteville on Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17.

Here’s what we know so far:

Saturday, March 16

For the second straight year, members of the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus are planning a St. Patrick’s Day parade along Dickson Street. The event began last year, and organizer Don Brown said that he expects more than double the amount of participants in year two.

“The response has just been overwhelming,” Brown said. “I’ve been blown away by the amount of support we’ve received, and calls from people that want to be involved this year. I think it’s going to be huge.”

The parade is set for noon on Saturday, March 16, and Brown said that about 50 groups will participate this year, including the Ozark Highlanders Pipe Band, McCafferty Irish Dancers, local police, firefighters, businesses, Boy Scouts, and several other organizations.

The parade will be lead this year by Grand Marshal and legendary UA track coach, John McDonnell.

Also on Saturday, the Northwest Arkansas Celtic Musicians and McCafferty Irish Dancers will also perform in front of the Fayetteville Town Center at around 1:30 p.m.

That evening, Northside Rotary Club will host an event at The Garden Room featuring more music by Northwest Arkansas Celtic Musicians, a buffet of Irish-themed heavy appetizers, and locally-brewed beer by Saddlebock Brewery. Tickets are on sale now for $20, and include “all the food, beer, and fun you can handle.”

Sunday, March 17

Local musicians Paddy O’Grill (Dave Malm) and Bill O’Sayle (Steve Kelsey) will perform Irish songs at the annual Greenhouse Grille St. Patrick’s Day Brunch at around 10 a.m.

Later on, Paddy O’Grill will perform at Mickey Finn’s Irish Pub from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Pub crawl t-shirt artwork

Courtesy

Dickson Street businesses are planning their annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl on Sunday night. According to organizers, registration begins at 6 p.m. at Common Grounds where would-be-crawlers can pay a $5 registration fee, and receive a passport listing about 15 participating watering holes.

From there, you’re on your own to visit all of the businesses on the list, and get a stamp from the bartender. Participants who visit all the businesses on the passport can return it to Common Grounds at the end of the the night for a commemorative t-shirt (while supplies last). There’s also a Mr. and Mrs. Leprechaun Contest from 7-8 p.m. at Common Grounds, and music from Sarah Hughes from 6- 9 p.m.

In years past, the t-shirts/passports have run out pretty quickly, but organizers have upped the quantity of t-shirts from 300 to 500 this year to help meet demand. Still, it might be a good idea to get there early if you’re pumped about getting a t-shirt.